However, quitting rates were more than three times higher among patients who underwent interviewing with their primary care physician compared to those who did it with another kind of health care worker.

"The fact that primary care physicians had the greatest impact on quit rates when using motivational interviewing ” as compared to other subgroups such as hospital clinicians, nurses and counselors ” strongly suggests that these doctors can have a significant impact on tobacco use," said Rebecca Schane, M.D., an internist and pulmonologist at the UCSF Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education.

"As it stands," Schane said, "smokers often state that a physician's support can be one of the most important factors in leading a patient to quit. Physicians need to make time to address smoking in clinical practice. When they do, clearly the outcome is favorable, as we see that patients are nearly four times more likely to quit tobacco when their primary care provider is involved."

Intervention delivered in one session appeared to be as effective as multiple session interventions. Motivational interviewing lasting less than 20 minutes was not effective.

Follow-up telephone calls did not appear to be helpful. The analysis showed that the lowest rate of quitting was associated with a higher number of calls.

Schane said that it is surprising that the review found no added benefit to follow-up telephone contact: "These results are in conflict with many other studies that indicate that the more contact a person has with a health care provider, the more likely they are to quit smoking."

cochrane